Home & Consumer Tech
Smart home, consumer electronics, and everyday tech
242 episodes · Page 8 of 11
#2791: How to Pick a Marker That Actually Stays On
Why do “permanent” markers fail on plastic? The answer is polymer chemistry, not bad luck.
#2783: Can a DAP Cure Your Distraction Addiction?
A listener asks if anyone still makes a decent non-phone audio player. The answer is yes—with a few important caveats.
#2767: The Anonymous Virtuosos of Elevator Music
The surprising history of Muzak, the military general who invented it, and the session musicians who made music designed to be ignored.
#2762: Thread vs Zigbee: Multi-Floor Smart Home Networking
Can you mix Thread border routers from different brands across floors? Yes—here's how it actually works.
#2759: Why Your Smart Home Can't Mimic a Hotel
Can Zigbee and Matter handle a two-story house with outdoor devices? We break down mesh hops, latency, and real-world limits.
#2751: Moving Like a Pro: Tips from Roadies and Diplomats
What touring roadies and Foreign Service officers can teach you about packing up your home network and toddler's toys.
#2728: Cleaning When You Can't Handle the Fumes
Vinegar and baking soda work, but not as disinfectants. Here’s what actually works for asthma-safe cleaning.
#2727: Your Kitchen Air Is Worse Than a Smoggy Day
Gas stoves spike NO2 above EPA limits in minutes. Here’s how to fix your kitchen air.
#2725: How to Inspect a Home Like a Pro
A retired pediatrician shares his pro-level checklist for viewing rentals and homes without getting fooled by staging.
#2718: Small Apartment Storage Without Going Minimalist
How to organize a small apartment without throwing everything out — using vertical space, zone storage, and the container concept.
#2716: Myrrh: The Ancient Resin Worth More Than Gold
Myrrh was once worth its weight in gold. Here's the botany, ancient trade, and medicinal chemistry behind it.
#2715: Why Studebaker Owners Are Different
What drives thousands of people to obsess over a car brand that died in 1966? It's more than nostalgia.
#2713: The PT Cruiser: Icon or Punchline?
Was the PT Cruiser a design triumph or a cultural joke? We break down its rise, fall, and strange legacy.
#2670: When Your Projector's App Store Dies
Brightness, screens, and software longevity — what to look for when buying a portable projector.
#2660: The Craft Cider Revival and the Art of Keeving
From Normandy's keeved ciders to Asturian sidra that argues with you — a global tour of craft cider's real hotspots.
#2659: The Accidental Invention That Predates the Wheel
Mead predates the wheel. Here's how to brew it at home — and why it's making a comeback.
#2658: The Legal Definition of Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway isn't just smaller Broadway—it's a different legal, economic, and artistic universe defined by seat counts.
#2646: When Your Door Won't Open: The Failure-Mode Philosophy of Smart Locks
Z-Wave vs Zigbee vs Wi-Fi for smart locks. What's reliable enough to trust with your front door?
#2629: The ADHD Archaeologist of Scent
How a frankincense obsession led to discovering perfume oils — a 4,000-year-old tradition that's being rediscovered today.
#2626: The Trust Problem in Bedroom Automation
Smart glass vs smart curtains for circadian health — what works in a rental bedroom without owning the walls?
#2608: Can You Wire Your House Like a Hotel?
Can you wire your house like a hotel? Here's what KNX costs, how it works, and how to connect it to Home Assistant.
#2600: Circadian Lighting Gradients in Home Assistant
How to build a smooth, override-friendly circadian lighting system using Adaptive Lighting in Home Assistant.
#2597: Voice Control for Renters: $25 Per Room, No Wall Damage
Distributed voice control on a budget with wake words, centralized processing, and zero wall damage — perfect for rentals.
#2595: Baby-Proofing a Small Rental: Survival Strategies
Practical strategies for surviving the mobile baby phase in a small Jerusalem apartment without losing your security deposit.